Alumni Updates
University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy alumni are leading dynamic lives, gaining recognition, getting new jobs, or investing in their personal lives through family, friends, and hobbies. Stay in touch with your fellow UW–Madison School of Pharmacy alumni across the country by checking (and sharing) Class Notes in each DiscoveRx digital magazine issue.
- See our previous edition of Class Notes from the Summer 2022 issue.
- Submit your class note for the Winter 2022 issue.
New Jobs/Positions
Drew Dretske (PharmD ’20, MS ’22) is starting a new role as the specialty pharmacy manager at Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas.
Owen Miller (PharmD ’22) is starting a clinical neurology research fellowship at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Lizeth Garcia-Jennings (PharmD ’20) started a new position as clinical pharmacy specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Elizabeth Langenstroer (PharmD ’20) recently completed a PGY2 in critical care at NewYork-Presbyterian and is excited to start her new role as a critical care pharmacist at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C.
Niyanta Kumar (PhD ’18): “I started a new role as principal scientist, DMPK, at Mersana Therapeutics in Cambridge, Mass., working at the cusp of large and small molecules to help bring the next generation of antibody drug conjugates to the fore. I look forward to connecting with fellow Badgers in the Boston-Cambridge area!”
Leigh Gomez (PharmD ’15) is the new program director for the PGY2 Emergency Medicine Residency at Nebraska Medicine.
Olufunmilola Abraham (MS ’11, PhD ’13) has been promoted to associate professor in the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s Social and Administrative Sciences Division.
Casey Gallimore (PharmD ’05, MS ’13) has been promoted to full professor in the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research Division.
Zoua Yang (PharmD ’09) launched her own pharmacy in Wausau, Wis.: Wausau Family Pharmacy.
Accomplishments and Awards
Michael Nagy (PharmD ’16) is honored with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2022 Curtis A. Johnson award.
Anita Kashyap (PharmD ’12) is honored with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2022 Young Pharmacist of the Year award.
Maria Wopat (PharmD ’10) is honored by the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Alumni Association as the 2022 Young Alumnus of the Year.
Beth Martin (BS ’90, MS ’03, PhD ’06) was part of a team that earned the Best Collaborative Publication Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, for a paper detailing a team-based approach to effective early warning and intervention.
Sarah Sorum (PharmD ’05) is honored by the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Alumni Association as the 2022 Alumnus of the Year.
Nate Rickles (MS ’99, PhD ’03) has been selected as a 2022 Academic Leadership Fellow of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Jason Lau (PharmD ’01) is the 2022-23 president of the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Michelle Farrell (BS ’99, PharmD ’00) is named the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network’s (CPESN) 2022 Most Valuable Pharmacist. Farrell is also honored with a 2022 Citation of Merit from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy.
Susan Stein (BS ’90, MS ’99) is honored with a 2022 Citation of Merit from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy.
Julie Thiel (BS ’98) is honored as the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2022 Pharmacist of the Year.
John Swann (MS ’82, PhD ’85) is honored with a 2022 Citation of Merit from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy.
Jeanine Krueger (BS ’80) is honored with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2022 Bowl of Hygeia Award.
Ron Sorkness (BS ’72) is honored with a 2022 Citation of Merit from the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy.
Terry Maves (BS ’69) is honored with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award.
Personal Updates and Check-Ins
Dani Fischer (PharmD ’13) was the top female finisher of the USA Triathlon (USAT) Distance National Championships in Milwaukee, Wis., on August 6. The USAT National Championships attracts the best amateur swim-bike-run athletes from all 50 states. Her winning time of 2:10:31 was 45 seconds faster than the runner-up female finisher.
Jack Hunter (MS ’63): “Pat and I moved to an assisted living home in San Ramon, Calif., in the east Bay Area after 55 years in Bellevue, Wash. I had my lower right leg and foot amputated a year ago, and I am doing well with a prothesis. We live near our daughter and family in San Ramon. I retired as a pharmacist from Rite Aid in 2004. A fun game part of my job for eight years was team pharmacist for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. I can be reached by old acquaintances at jack.b.hunter@gmail.com or 425-213-4587.”
In Memoriam
David McKee (BS ’74) passed away in July 2022. He was a dedicated pharmacist for many years in the Fort Atkinson, Wis., community, but his true “calling” was being a full-time grandpa.
Arden Thorsbakken (BS ’54) passed away in August 2022. After graduating from the School of Pharmacy, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War. When he returned to Wisconsin, he practiced pharmacy for several years until he decided to pursue a career in dentistry. He holds eight patents, wrote several children’s books, and loved spending time with his family.